Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Arrival
The morning sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Maison Sauveur as Feliz took a deep breath and stepped inside. She’d rehearsed her introduction, her portfolio spiel, even how she’d hold her coffee cup—everything designed to show her as the confident, unshakeable designer she was.
A cacophony of voices and clacking keyboards greeted her. Sketches sprawled across desks, and mannequins draped in half-finished garments lined the hall. It was chaos—and she thrived on it.
Maya [yawning into her palm, barely holding her head up]
“Hey, newbie, want coffee? I’m surviving on espresso shots over here.”
Feliz [smiling politely]
“Black, please.”
Across the room, Lia was on her third chocolate bar, chatting non-stop into a headset.
Lia
“—and then I told him, ‘If you want it perfect, you hire me!’ Can you believe that look on his face?”
Feliz managed a nod, already mentally filing Lia under “endearingly exhausting.”
From the corner of her eye, she caught Jasper leaning over a stack of production schedules, his voice rising.
James
“People, people—deadline’s next week! We need these specs locked today!”
Feliz ducked around a rolling rack of fabrics and made her way to the HR desk. That’s when she saw him.
Sly Salvador lounged against the far wall, arms crossed, posture relaxed as if he owned the place. His dark hair was tousled just enough to look effortless. His eyes, deep brown and unblinking, tracked her arrival with a smirk tugging at one corner of his lips.
Sly
[voice low, teasing]
“New girl?”
Feliz’s pulse hammered in her ears. She refused to let him see it. She straightened, squared her shoulders.
Feliz
[coolly]
“Problem?”
He took two deliberate steps toward her, invading her personal space. She could smell his cologne—something sharp and smoky that made her skin tingle.
Sly
“Just making conversation. I’m Sly.”
[extends a hand]
She used her free hand to accept it, taking care not to let her palm brush his too long.
Feliz
“Feliz.”
He let go quickly, backing off with that infuriating grin.
Sly
“Well, Feliz, if you think this is all glam and glitter, you’re in for a surprise. Work here gets… interesting.”
[eyes flick to her portfolio bag]
“You’ll fit right in.”
Before she could respond, Maya and Lia converged at her side.
Maya
[cheerful despite half-closed eyes]
“Here—coffee!”
Lia
[tosses her a brownie]
“And sugar for the soul!”
Feliz thanked them, tucking the brownie into her bag. She glanced back at Sly, but he was already drifting away, blending back into the organized chaos of the office.
An assistant appeared, leading her to her new workstation. On the desk lay a neon sticky note:
> “Welcome, Feliz! We love your portfolio. —Your Team”
Her heart flickered with warmth. Before she could settle in, her phone buzzed.
> Sly: “Welcome. See you around.”
It felt like a promise.
She started unpacking her sketches when Manager Raffy appeared in the doorway. Bald, polo-clad, and with a constant half-smile, he looked every bit the calm eye of the office storm—until his temper flared.
Raffy
“Ah, Feliz, glad you’re here.”
[to Sly]
“Sly, meet Feliz. She’s your new designer. You two have a meeting in five minutes.”
Sly’s eyebrows shot up. He flicked a glance at Feliz—his smirk now edged with surprise.
Sly
[mock-serious]
“Me? Lead designer? This I gotta see.”
Feliz
[raising an eyebrow]
“Your nameplate says it all.”
Raffy cleared his throat, then hurried off to another crisis. The charged silence between them lengthened.
Sly
[leaning in, voice husky]
“Team lead, huh? We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”
She pinned him with a steady look.
Feliz
“I can handle it.”
He straightened, winked, and strolled away—only to pause at the door.
Sly
“I’ll enjoy watching you try.”
The door clicked shut behind him. Feliz exhaled, chest tight.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, the sender was “Boss Grandpa.”
> “Keep an eye on that designer. Don’t let her slip away.”
Sly’s smile back at her in that moment had been more than playful. It had been a challenge.
And the game was only just beginning.
